"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
Robert Downey Jr. took the lead in clapping and cheering. Producers flirting with actresses—now that was hardly anything unusual in this industry. He didn't see anything particularly wrong with it.
"Don't forget, you're sleeping with me tonight."
Regulus Black cast a sidelong glance at Robert Downey Jr. and dropped a line that instantly shut him up, drawing a burst of laughter from everyone around.
Yes, when the rooms were assigned, Robert Downey Jr. ended up sharing one with another male actor—namely, Regulus Black.
"Alright then! No problem. I'm ready to sacrifice myself anytime."
Robert Downey Jr. threw caution to the wind. At that time, he still had that roguish vibe—an attitude full of mischief and bravado. Come on! Let's hurt each other!
Regulus Black patted him on the shoulder and handed him over to the props team for a fitting. After all, whether the clothes fit well was crucial—especially with Gothic-style costumes. Though they looked elaborate, the most important piece was the base layer shirt. It might seem like just an underlayer, but the real essence was in the outer garments. Tight-fitting layers were designed to perfectly outline a person's physique. As long as someone's body wasn't in terrible shape, Gothic clothing could highlight a striking presence, regardless of gender.
Moreover, Gothic fashion paid great attention to intricate decorative patterns—not the kind with bright colors, but detailed black embroidery. Some family-history-inspired designs were so complex that you'd only notice them upon close inspection.
Gothic attire maintained a consistent air of mystery and elegance—reserved and melancholic. If the person wearing it wasn't in the right state of mind, their entire vibe could collapse instantly, going from energetic to utterly lifeless.
"I'm not worried about whether you can play the part now. What concerns me is whether you can handle the later scenes where the character falls into despair."
Regulus Black patted Robert Downey Jr. again—this time with a seriousness that made it clear he wasn't joking.
Regulus Black, who barely needed a wardrobe change, had already finished his makeup. There was no shooting scheduled today. All four of them were busy changing outfits, testing how they looked on camera, and taking still shots for posterity.
After a full day of work, all the available rooms had been occupied by the crew. Because the nearby town was far away, everyone who could leave had already done so. The ones who stayed had to make do—including the investor, Regulus Black, who had to share a room with Robert Downey Jr. So, really, who else could complain?
"Downey, have you ever thought about what kind of films you want to do in the future?"
Regulus Black was quite intrigued by this future Iron Man. Late at night, he couldn't help but start a conversation.
"I've never thought about it—seriously. If it weren't for my old man being an actor, I might not have become one either."
Robert Downey Jr. was clearly still in his rebellious phase. And now, he was even complaining about his dad to someone he'd just met.
"Why do you say that? Becoming a star is a dream for so many people. You've already been in two films, haven't you?"
Regulus Black kept his eyes closed, as if he were asleep. But he clearly remembered Downey Jr.'s background.
"But did you know one of those films was shot when I was five? My life was never really mine to decide."
Robert Downey Jr. sat up, as if he wanted to argue his case with Regulus Black.
"Count yourself lucky! That's a kind of experience most people don't have. Starting out that high up—plenty of people would envy that."
Regulus Black opened his eyes and gave Downey Jr. a mocking look.
"Yeah, a lot of people don't realize when they're blessed. Having a director for a dad and an actress for a mom—being born into a showbiz family—it's both a blessing and a curse. Of course there's pressure, but there's also a leg up. Compared to all those young men and women charging into Hollywood blindly, I'm way more fortunate."
That Downey Jr. could understand things to this extent genuinely surprised Regulus Black. He'd expected the guy to keep playing the rebellious youth until prison and drug addiction finally sobered him up.
"I noticed you're married now. I guess love really can turn a rebellious guy into a family man."
Regulus Black glanced over and noticed the wedding ring on Robert Downey Jr.'s finger.
"Yeah! I got married this April. It's not just marriage that changes a person—having a child does too. Deborah is planning for our first baby."
Robert Downey Jr. looked at the ring on his finger with a blissful smile. This was his first time leaving home for a film shoot since getting married, and just before he came to the UK, his wife had finally made up her mind—they needed a child. Otherwise, with him being away from home for long periods, things could easily go wrong.
"For the baby's formula money, you'd better give it your all and make films your child can be proud of."
Regulus Black knew well that Robert Downey Jr.'s marriage wouldn't last. At most, it might go on for ten years.
"Of course. After this film with you, I've got another project lined up. You've heard of Chaplin, right?"
Robert Downey Jr. spoke with some pride. He had two films scheduled for this year—Crimson Peak and Chaplin.
"Congratulations! I'm sure the director can manage the filming schedule well so it won't affect your next movie."
Regulus Black was quite confident about that, since he never intended to follow a conventional filming process in the first place.
Just like how Regulus Black's acting had improved by leaps and bounds, getting everyone into their best state wouldn't be a problem at all.
"It's getting late. Get some sleep."
There was a commanding conviction in Regulus Black's tone. One moment, Robert Downey Jr. had been happily busy with thoughts of his marriage and career, and the next, he felt he should rest well to perform better the next day. His emotional shift happened subtly and naturally, without the slightest resistance.
Regulus Black got out of bed, and Robert Downey Jr. was already lightly snoring.
Next door, Jennifer Connelly and Charlize Theron couldn't sleep either. Naturally, they wanted to get to know each other better—and talk about Regulus Black.
"Connelly! You must have done quite a few films already, right? I remember seeing you in Once Upon a Time in America. You were the female lead."
Charlize Theron, still sporting a baby face, looked adorably round-cheeked—completely different from her later, more chiseled look. Truth be told, the name "Charlize Theron" became more memorable as she matured.
Jennifer Connelly, on the other hand, was different. Though she remained beautiful as she matured, the image that left the deepest impression on audiences was her ballet scene in Once Upon a Time in America.
"Yes, I acted in Once Upon a Time in America. But up to now, I've only done two films. As for the second one... let's not talk about it."
Jennifer Connelly was a few years older than Charlize Theron at the time, and her face already carried a hint of maturity.
"Huh? What do you mean? Did something unpleasant happen in your second movie? Was it the director or the male lead?"
Having just entered the film industry, Charlize Theron was very curious about these things—it was also a way to prepare herself for the future.
"Oh! I think you've misunderstood. Although many European filmmakers lack integrity, it's not what you're thinking."
Jennifer Connelly waved her hand with a smile. She was genuinely disappointed with her previous film, Myth.
"Come on, tell me! I really want to learn more about the movie industry."
Charlize Theron was being a bit persistent, taking advantage of her youth to act a little spoiled.
"Alright, alright! Stop shaking me. Honestly, it was just a bad film. The story was all over the place, the soundtrack was a mess, and the character development was completely irrational. As an actress, all I could do was follow the director's instructions—I had no idea what the final result would be. I only found out it was a disaster when I sat in the theater myself. The worst part is, the 'bad movie' label sticks to everyone involved—director, screenwriter, actors—no one escapes. Once you've been part of a flop, that stigma follows you."
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